Tunisia – Price hikes trouble Tunisians

Location: Tunis – Tunisia

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:22

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Tunisia

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 01/09/2022

Storyline:

The wave of price hikes continues in Tunisia, and has affected most consumer goods. This has negatively affected citizens who complained of unjustified, significant daily rise in food prices. Citizens called on concerned authorities to take the necessary measures to curb the wave of high prices and protect them from the greed of traders.

National Consumption Institute officials told A24 reporter that the wave of high prices in Tunisia is linked to the rise in global prices, noting the need to intensify market monitoring to control prices and hold violators accountable, as well as expand the list of subsidized goods.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Fathi – Restaurant worker):

“For example, the price of pepper today is $0.75 but tomorrow you find it’s $1.6. I do not understand why prices rise arbitrarily. Ordinary people can no longer afford their basic needs. I went to a tomato seller and found the price extremely high, especially now with the holidays and new school term. It’s really upsetting that everyone keeps raising prices without surveillance or control.”

– Soundbite (Khairi – Retiree):

“In the past, I used to buy a bucket of figs for $0.19 but now a kilogram of figs costs about $4, while income is only $94. How can we afford to buy anything with such high prices? One kilogram of meat costs $10.”

– Soundbite (Abdul Karim – Hourly worker):

“Prices change every minute. Where is the state and officials we see on TV talking about their achievements? I demand they gather at the square, including our beloved President and take a tour of the markets to see the reality of how people are living.”

– Soundbite (Amar Dhaya – President of Consumer Defence Organisation)

“Tunisians may be the only citizens feeling disequilibrium between income and life expenses, as prices continue to rise causing some segments to become unable to keep up financially.”

– Soundbite (Lotfi Riahi – Tunisian Organisation to Inform Consumers)

“The purchasing power of Tunisians has weakened severely with the daily rise in prices of all goods. There is 0.1% increase in subsidized goods and 2.2% increase in unsubsidized goods. As Tunisian Organisation to Inform Consumers, we call for the expansion of subsidized goods list in order to decrease pressure on consumers and slow down increase in goods.”

– Soundbite (Abdul Qader Al-Damoumi – In charge of running National Consumption Institute)

“Every country takes measures appropriate for dealing with this situation. Tunisia, however, has an issue with creating stock adjustment during production and procurement, as we rely 99% on national production. As such, there is increase in prices for supplied goods, which has effected prices in general in Tunisia. In addition, there is the issue with the prices of unsubsidized goods, which are supposed to be determined within 6 months, as stipulated by the law, along with the profit margins. The state issued 8 decisions to determine profit margins and prices, but it still is not enough. Therefore the state makes sure to procure enough quantities so that supply can meet demand. However, the issue of speculation and monopoly remains, in which case market control is needed.”